The red belt in BJJ is the highest belt you can get in its ranking system. It’s reserved for the elite individuals who have decided to dedicate their entire lives to Jiu-Jitsu. They typically have influenced thousands of trainees and spread the word about this magnificent martial art to many thousands. So, what is a Grandmaster in Jiu-Jitsu?
A Jiu-Jitsu Grandmaster is a 9th-degree black belt given to coaches who have influenced the lives of many trainees (many thousands) and dedicated their lives to spreading the word about this martial art. They’ve also mastered the art of BJJ since they know more than anyone else about the craft.
You don’t just receive the red belt for training long enough. You can stay consistent for 50 years and not be close to the 9th-degree black belt. Instead, you must influence the lives of other trainees, preferably the entire BJJ community!
Doing so is more complex than most people think. You have to influence the lives of so many people and touch so many hearts that most people will never even try to achieve this status.
This article will review what it means to be a Grandmaster in BJJ. Likewise, I’ll explain its definition and explain, once and for all, who these mysterious red belts are you see on YouTube.
Alright, let’s dive in.
What is a Grandmaster in BJJ?
BJJ has a belt ranking system. It all starts with the white belt. However, with consistency, you’ll attain the blue belt. You’ll also achieve the purple, brown, and mighty black belt in the future. But it doesn’t end there. The black belt has 10 degrees, two of which are the Grandmaster rank.
The Grandmaster in BJJ is the 9 and 10 degrees of the black belt (the final ones.) They’re typically given to masters of the craft who have dedicated their life to mastering and teaching the art of Jiu-Jitsu. Attaining the red belt can take over 60 years of consistent and dedicated training and teaching.
But it’s not guaranteed even then. You can train for 60 years and become a master of the craft, and there’s no guarantee you’ll ever reach the 9th-degree black belt.
The truth is that you have to make connections in the industry. You have to show your life work in some way. You have to have some proof.
Many of the Gracie family were the pioneers of BJJ. Therefore, they’re the most famous individuals in the industry. For instance, Helio Gracie is a 10th-degree red belt, a true grandmaster. He practiced BJJ till his last day. You will never be able to imagine the number of trainees he influenced and encouraged.
That’s why he deserved the 10th-degree red belt.
What is the highest BJJ grade?
Is there an end to the BJJ pursuit? You might currently be a blue belt and want to set a goal to achieve. So you want to know the highest BJJ rank you can be? Unfortunately, your chances of achieving it are 0.0000001%. But, you can be one of these legends who do achieve it; I’ll be the last to discourage you.
So, what is the highest belt in BJJ?
The highest BJJ grade is the 10th-degree red belt, known as the Grandmaster. You’re also a grandmaster when you achieve the 9th-degree red belt, which only a handful of masters earn such a superb, respectable achievement. Most masters will never come close to being a coral belt, the 7th-degree.
Getting to the red belt territory will take more than just dedication and consistency. You might currently find it challenging to aim for the purple belt. Well, it might take a few years of consistent training, and you’ll attain it.
However, how about a lifetime of consistent mastery and teaching for you? You must influence the BJJ community so widely and profoundly until you come near achieving such a rank.
Unfortunately, there are no 10th-degree red belts currently alive.
But who knows? We might see a legend achieving the 10th-degree red belt soon.
How long does it take to become a Jiu-Jitsu Grandmaster?
It might take longer than a lifetime to become a Grandmaster in Jiu-Jitsu. Actually, it probably will be more than that. However, there’s only one primary way one master can achieve such a feat; to influence the lives of so many trainees and spread the word about BJJ. Only then will one be a qualified candidate for such an achievement?
Becoming a Jiu-Jitsu grandmaster takes a lifetime of consistent mastery and teaching of Jiu-Jitsu. The minimum, however, is 55.5 years of training and teaching. It’ll likely take much more than that. The youngest you can expect to become a red belt is 67.
Here’s a detailed summary of your minimum time before advancing to each belt. Have a look.
| BJJ Belt Color | Minimum time before advancement (Years) |
|---|---|
| White | Not Listed |
| Blue | 2 |
| Purple | 1.5 |
| Brown | 1 |
| Black | 3 |
| 2nd Degree | 3 |
| 3nd Degree | 3 |
| 4th Degree | 5 |
| 5th Degree | 5 |
| 6th Degree | 5 |
| 7th Degree | 7 |
| 8th Degree | 10 |
| 9th Degree | 10 |
| 10th Degree | Only to Pioneers |
| Total | 55.5 Years |
Is it too late to start training in Jiu-Jitsu?
The last thing we’ll discuss is whether it’s too late for you to start training in Jiu-Jitsu. I was waiting to write this section for the entire process of producing this article because it means the most to me.
Many of you might think it’s too late to start training in Jiu-Jitsu since all the legends started training before they could talk. But how can you think about starting to train at the old age of 18?!
You don’t need to be equal to the pioneers of Jiu-Jitsu, so it’s never too late to start training in this magnificent martial art. The primary point of training is about self-improvement and pushing what you think are your physical and mental limits backward.
You’ll become more competent and capable of achieving everything you set your eyes on. That is the one attribute I’m confident everyone would want to have.
This is what BJJ and martial arts are about. It’s about self-improvement, self-fulfillment, and learning new skills to serve you in real life. As a result, your personality and how you view the world will change positively. I guarantee that.
It’s never too late to start training. Hopefully, you’ll start today.
Final words
These are the red belts you see once in a while. They’re scarce, especially in real life, as there are few. But you can go and train in any of their BJJ gyms, as all of them have dedicated their lives to teaching Jiu-Jitsu.
The point of this article, and Blinklift, is to make you start training in martial arts as soon as possible. All I’m looking for is for you to sign up for your first class and start seeing results from there.
I’m confident that you’ll never want to quit once you begin learning Jiu-Jitsu. Therefore, I hope you step out of your comfort zone and take the first step toward self-improvement.
And you can sign up for our Newsletter to keep up with all our new blog posts and start seeing more results than everybody else.
Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading:
BJJ’s Belt Ranking System Explained – From White to Black
BJJ White Belts – How to Progress Faster (Guide)
You’re a BJJ Black Belt – Now What?
BJJ Brown Belts – How Dangerous Are They
BJJ Blue Belts: Why They’re DANGEROUS